Purchasing the best digital camera for your close-up photography can be a little overwhelming, but don’t get discouraged. With a little information, organization and determination you will be able to pick out the perfect camera for your close-up photography needs in no time. Close-up photography can essentially be broken down into four basic categories; still-life, portrait, action and documentation copy. The camera that you choose will depend largely upon which of these categories your photographic needs fall into. A basic understanding of the features available in digital cameras will help you in your decision, as to which digital camera best suits your close-up photographic needs.
Pixels
Digital cameras pick up a picture by using a light-sensitive apparatus. When the light hits this apparatus, it translates the light to pixels. Each pixel is a dot that represents a tiny portion of the photo. By putting all of the pixels together, you see the photo.
Most digital cameras in the $100 range come with about 5 mega pixels. For the average person who just wants family photos or vacation memories, this is just fine. For those who want large, high-resolution pictures, they will need more mega pixels. Look at it this way, when enlarged, the more mega pixel capacity of the camera, the more crisp detail in the enlargement.
Image Stabilization ( IS )
IS is hardware inside the camera that prevents a blurry picture when the camera moves during a shot.
Face Recognition
This can adjust the focus so that your subject/subjects are the focus of the picture.
Zoom Capabilities
With zoom lens measurements, it is the multiplier that applies to the zoom capability as measured from the point where the lens has no magnification.
Making your Choice of Cameras for your Close – up Photography Needs
Taking these above issues into consideration, you should have no problem finding the exact camera that you need; and at a good price too.
Here are a few examples of excellent cameras that are ideal for close-up photography work:
1. Canon PowerShot A590 – This camera is very easy to use. It has an 8-mega pixel image sensor and gives high resolution pictures. If you want to add more telephoto capabilities, or a wide angle option, this camera accepts converter lenses that you can attach for easier close-ups or large group shots. The price range for this camera is $125 – $200.
Dell – $129.99
Circuit City – $129.99
Crutchfield – $149.99
Or go online – www.kodak.com
2. Nikon D60 – This camera has an astounding 10.2 mega pixels sensor, and takes sharp, crisp images. It has a built in speed light with flash control, with in-camera image editing. In-camera editing can be a good thing to have if you don’t have a good editing program in your computer. The price range for this camera is $550 – $700.
Dell – $639.99
Circuit City – $599.99
CompUSA – $699.99
Or go online – www.nikon.com
3. Pentax Optic A-40 – For being as small as it is, it has a 12 mega pixel sensor. I don’t have large hands but I do have long fingers, and I found this camera too small for comfort, and has image stabilization ( IS ). It is not one of the ultra-thins, but still to small for my hands. The price range for this camera is
4. Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28K – I don’t think you could get any better camera, especially for the price. It has a 10.1 mega pixel sensor, 18x optical zoom lens, image stabilization and face recognition. The thing I liked best about this camera is it has a 2.7″ view screen. The price range for this camera is $300 – $400.
Circuit City – $369.99
CompUSA – $399.99
Or go online – www.panasonic.com
5. Sony Cyber – shot DSC – H50 – I like things just a little more simple, but this camera takes just about the most beautiful close-up pictures that I have ever seen, and is perfect for still-life type close-ups. It has 9.1 mega pixel imaging with 15x zoom lens. It has a wheel dial that lets you set the exposure to suit the environment. You can get perfectly focused close-ups of a bee on a flower. It has burst mode for up to 100 rapid fire shots, and image stabilization for blur – free pictures. You would expect to pay a lot more for this camera, but the price range is $350 – $450.
When shopping for your digital camera for your close-up photography needs consider the following. The importance of the resolution (pixels), how it fits in your hands, the degree of zoom that you need and the add-on that you might need, such as memory card, extra lenses, etc. And don’t forget to check what’s on sale.
